NICOLA Sturgeon was accused of resorting to the “politics of grievance” yesterday as she tried to unite Holyrood in her fight against a £177million budget cut.

The Scottish Government is furious after Chancellor George Osborne slashed its spending as part of a UK-wide £4.5billion cuts package.

Ms Sturgeon has written to Holyrood’s party leaders urging them to join forces and oppose Thursday’s surprise announcement.

In a letter to Labour’s Kezia Dugdale, Tory Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie of the Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens’ Patrick Harvie, the First Minister said Mr Osborne had “little respect” for the Scottish Parliament.

She also stepped up SNP demands for a “moderate increase” in public spending of 0.5 per cent a year in real terms between 2016/17 and 2019/20.

The Chancellor has given the Scottish Government the option to defer the cuts for a year, until Holyrood gets new tax powers.

Scottish Tories repeated Mr Osborne’s challenge to use them if it wants to increase public spending.

John Lamont, the party’s chief whip, also said ministers north of the Border had received an extra £2.7billion since 2010 because of UK Government decisions.

He added: “Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t seem to understand that if Britain is going to prosper for the long term, it needs to pay its way in the world.

“Her response over the last 24 hours has shown that the SNP prefers the politics of grievance to a constructive plan to pay down our debts.

“The SNP is, as always, quick to cry foul, but rarely acknowledges the benefits of additional spending from the UK Government.

“Tax-raising powers are coming to the Scottish Parliament, so if it wants to act, it can.”

Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t seem to understand that if Britain is going to prosper for the long term, it needs to pay its way in the world

John Lamont

The Scottish Government insist they cannot use a £145million underspend from last year’s budget to offset the cut because the cash has already been earmarked for use in current spending plans.

Its £176.8million cut, calculated using the Barnett formula, was smaller than a population share as English spending on devolved areas such as health and education is being protected.

But in her letter to rivals Ms Sturgeon said: “I hope that you will agree with me that all parties in Scotland must unite in making clear to the UK Government that it is unacceptable for reductions to be imposed on this year’s Scottish Budget.

“Not only do such reductions have a potentially damaging impact on our programmes and public services, but the Chancellor’s approach shows little respect for the role of the Scottish Parliament itself in approving the annual devolved Scottish Budget.”

Deputy First Minister John Swinney is to offer an “alternative to austerity” when he meets the Chancellor on Monday.

Mr Osborne revealed a further £3billion of savings at Whitehall are expected this year.

The UK Government wants to clear the deficit by 2018/19, cutting £12billion from welfare and £500million from defence.

Scottish Greens co-convener Mr Harvie said he opposed the UK Government cuts but “the Tories are unlikely to listen”.

He added: “The real challenge will be to achieve unity in the Scottish Parliament to use our own devolved power to achieve fairer taxation and protection of the public services we all depend on.”